XOXO, Violet by Ginger Li
3Wesley
“So, are you free this weekend?” Biting her lip, Chloe twirled a strand of her long brown hair around her finger and shot a glance at the group of sophomore girls watching from several feet away.
Shoot. Even if I let her down gently, no one liked being rejected, especially not in front of their friends.
Chloe was cute, and normally, I would have said yes because, honestly, what guy doesn’t love attention from a pretty girl? I’d spent my entire high school career enjoying the company of attractive females. But lately, I’d been finding ways to dodge the flirtatious looks and DMs sent my way. Maybe being a senior made dating around seem not as thrilling anymore. With only a few months to go until the end of the school year, I wanted to spend more time with the people I actually cared about.
People such as my best friend, Ash, who was currently taking his sweet time to find a book in the library. Seriously. The guy went inside over twenty minutes ago. Ten bucks said that he’d come back out with three books instead of one.
“Well, Wes? Are you free?” Chloe placed a hand on her waist and blinked up at me.
My stomach rumbled. Okay, first things first. I’d let Chloe down gently, then extract my friend from the library’s hypnotic grasp, so we could head to lunch. “Listen, I’m really sorry. But I can’t hang out. I’m busy all weekend.” I flashed her an apologetic smile, hoping that would ease the blow.
Her freckled cheeks grew rosier, and I heard her soft intake of breath.
Whoa. Note to self—next time, tone down the smile.
Chloe blinked her large, doe-like eyes. “You are? Doing what?”
Going to the beach and hanging out with Ash most likely. But I wasn’t about to tell her that because she might ask to join us. My mind scrambled to come up with some other excuse. Water polo season had just ended, and swim team hadn’t started yet, so I wasn’t involved in a sport. And now that Ophelia was in junior high, I couldn’t say I was babysitting her anymore.
“Study,” I blurted out, although it sounded more like a question than a statement.
Chloe’s expression brightened again. “I need to study too. Maybe we could have a study date at the library. Or your place?” She leaned closer and ran her finger down my arm.
Yikes. Seemed Chloe wasn’t taking the hint. I casually shifted my weight and pulled away. “Sorry, but studying’s a solo activity. I need to keep my grades up, or I can’t join swim team.” Well, at least that part was true. East Beach High had strict rules about their athletes maintaining a certain grade point average.
Chloe’s shoulders drooped, and I relaxed slightly. Maybe she would finally leave me alone. But that hope was dashed when a more determined expression replaced the hopeful one from before. “Maybe I can help. I’m a good student. What subjects are you struggling with?”
I clamped my mouth shut. How would I get out of this one?
“Wesley?” Mrs. Lamb, my precalc teacher and unlikely savior, walked toward us. She stopped several feet away and pulled out a handkerchief to dab at her damp face. “Apologies for interrupting your conversation, but could I please speak to you in private for a moment?”
“Sure, Mrs. L.” Man, her timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I’d never been so eager to see my math teacher in my entire life. “Sorry, Chloe. I’ll talk to you later.” I gave her a grin and jogged over to where Mrs. Lamb now stood in the shade of a palm tree.
While precalc was my least favorite subject, I liked Mrs. Lamb. She reminded me of my grandmother, kind-hearted with a no-nonsense approach to life.
“We need to talk about your last quiz.” She handed me the test we took last week before Thanksgiving. I swallowed hard and flipped through the pages, although I could already guess what I’d see. Math and I stopped getting along after we learned about decimals and fractions in fifth grade. For some reason, the need to flip the second fraction and multiply it to divide two fractions had never sat well with me.
“I’m sorry, Wesley,” she murmured. Red pen marked up all three pages. It was like looking at some awful modern art piece. “I tried to give you partial credit, but you didn’t get a single question right. I thought our work during office hours would have made things clearer, but you still seem to lack even a fundamental grasp of the material.”
Her words hit me like a sucker punch to the gut. I knew I wasn’t doing well in her class, so that’s why I’d sought her out for extra help. But, geez, I hadn’t realized I was that bad.
“I studied. Honest, I did.” I thrust the papers back at her, wanting to put as much distance between me and my failing grade as I could. “I know my last couple of quizzes haven’t been too great. Is there any way I could do extra credit?”
Mrs. Lamb shook her head. “Sorry. You’ll need to figure out a better way to study. The material in this class builds, like a house of cards. So if you lay an unstable foundation….”
Crash. Boom. I got the idea. Despite being bad at math, I could still connect the dots. This was bad. Really bad. Ash and I were supposed to be co-captains of the swim team this year, but that wouldn’t happen if I didn’t keep my grades up. At this rate, I wouldn’t even be allowed to join the team.
“Unfortunately, I’m busy the next two weeks so I can’t meet with you after school. My suggestion is that you get a math tutor. Someone who can work through the problems with you to ensure you get the concepts.” Mrs. Lamb pulled a sheet of paper from a manila folder in her hand. “Here are the names of several students who’d make excellent candidates.”
I scanned the list of names and spotted two familiar ones: my best friend, Asher, and Violet, one of his girlfriend’s best friends. For a second, it felt as though a weight had lifted from my chest. Ash would tutor me in a heartbeat. After all, I’d saved his butt often enough.
But then the weight settled again. The thought of asking my best friend for help made me uncomfortable. Embarrassed even. The guy was a genius, while I was…clearly not.
“Thanks for the list.” I folded the papers in half, wishing that we hadn’t just had this conversation. Senior year was supposed to be about parties and leading the water polo and swim teams to championship wins. Not extra time spent studying a subject I hated.
Mrs. Lamb offered a smile of encouragement and dabbed at her face again. “You’ve got a good head on your shoulders. I’m sure that with a little extra help, you’ll understand the concepts in no time.”
Right. That was probably something she said to all her failing students. If only high school math were as simple as adding apples and oranges. I’d rocked that in first grade.
Thankfully, when I made it back to the library building, the girls were nowhere in sight. Oh well. At least I hadn’t been lying to Chloe. It looked like my weekend plans really would consist of schoolwork.
Asher walked down the library steps, balancing a small stack of books in his hands. “Sorry about that. I ended up needing more than I expected.” He eyed the papers in my hand and smirked. “What’s that? Another declaration of affection?”
I rolled my eyes and tried pushing Mrs. Lamb and our conversation from my mind. “Wow. A guy gets three love letters, and suddenly that’s all anyone can talk about.” I gave him a wry smile and casually slid my failing test and the tutor list into my backpack. “It’s nothing. Just my precalc quiz.”
Ash laughed. “Ah, three letters this week. And let’s not forget that one girl who included a lock of hair and toenail clippings.”
Yeah, that was definitely…different. I chuckled. “What can I say? I inspire devotion.”
Asher grimaced. “And it’s like you don’t even try. The girls just flock to you.” We walked side by side to the lower campus. Several groups of girls stopped what they were doing and watched us passing. I grinned at their obvious appraisal. Ash had brown hair and I had dirty blond hair. We were both tall, athletic, and good-looking guys. Girls always seemed interested in us, although less so with Asher now that he had a serious girlfriend.
“So, how did you do? I know you were worried about the quiz before you sat it.”
Not wanting to drag our conversation down with a heavy topic, I relaxed my shoulders and shrugged. “Me? Worry about grades? Never.”
Ash grinned. “You’re right. I’m sure you just coast right by like you always do.” He stopped in front of his locker and exchanged the library books for a binder. “Man, I’d love to be you. Always having fun and enjoying my life.”
Yeah, if only he knew. “Well, you’re welcome to join me and relax a little. You already got into college, and swim team hasn’t started yet.”
Asher’s eyes met mine, and we both laughed. Like that would ever happen. The sun to my moon, my friend was as focused and serious about school and his future as I was about having fun.
Ten-year goals? Five-year goals? Who had those? Not me. I took each day as it came and enjoyed the ride. Life was too short to not savor each moment.
Asher shut his locker. “Forgot to tell you that Coach talked to me this morning. He wants me to share our experiences in the state finals with the girls’ water polo team, you know, since the boys’ team did so well this year.”
“Want me to come too?” I pretended to consider the possibility. “I was co-captain, after all, and I could squeeze an inspirational speech into my schedule.”
Ash arched a brow. “I’m talking to the team. Not dating them.”
Well, shoot. You take a couple of the girls’ soccer team members out, and suddenly everyone assumes you’re a player. I rolled my eyes. “Fine. Go be inspiring. I suppose it must be exhausting being you, but it’s tiring being me too. I’m thinking of throwing another party.”
“Really? But your last one was only two weeks ago.”
Yup. And I’d stayed up until three in the morning, cleaning up the shaving cream afterward. Good times.
“Let me worry about the fun,” I teased. “You just focus on Piper and your schoolwork.”
As if on cue, Asher’s face softened at the mention of his girlfriend. Usually, I’d tease friends if they started seriously dating someone. Because, let’s face it, we were red-blooded teenagers, high school seniors. We didn’t need to be tied down right now. But since this was Asher going mushy over a girl, I held my tongue. Ash and Piper’s relationship had gotten off to a rocky start, but after months of misunderstanding, they’d finally gotten together. So even though I spent less time with Asher these days because of her, I didn’t mind. I was rooting for them.
We made our way to the cafeteria to join Piper and her two best friends for lunch. Instead of sitting inside, the three girls sat on the bleachers today. Not that I minded the change of scenery, in my book, outside beat being inside every time. After grabbing tacos from one of the food carts, Ash and I made our way over to join them. He, of course, took a seat next to Piper.
“Mind if I sit here?” I motioned to the gap between Violet and Olivia.
Olivia grabbed her sandwich and scooted over. “Sure. Go ahead.”
When I glanced at Violet, she gave me a small smile and nodded.
I sat and discreetly gave her outfit a once-over.
Not that I’d admit it to anyone, but I looked forward to seeing what Violet wore each day. First of all, she was delicately beautiful, with large, expressive dark eyes and long pin-straight black hair. Secondly, unlike most girls at our school, Violet rarely wore shorts and T-shirts. Her outfits always looked like a hodgepodge of various time periods. Today she wore a loose blouse with a bright yellow vest and a long, flowing skirt.
My gaze lingered on the two black braids wrapped around her head. How they defied gravity and stayed in place, I had no idea. “Channeling your inner Anne of Green Gables?”
A smile tugged at her lips. “Always. And I’m impressed by your reference.”
I shrugged, pretending I wasn’t pleased by her compliment. “My sister’s really into the movies. She made me watch them with her a couple of years ago.”
“Well, she’s got good taste. It’s one of my favorites. That and The Terminator.”
I stared into Violet’s sparkling brown eyes, wondering if she was teasing. A few months ago, I’d never have guessed she was even capable of doing so. Violet had been super shy; she couldn’t even talk to me without stumbling over her words. But now that we’d spent more time together, I’d discovered she had an offbeat sense of humor.
“You’re an Arnold Schwarzenegger fan?” I chuckled. “I’m surprised. You don’t look the type.”
Violet’s cheeks turned pink and she stuck out her tongue. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you to not judge a book by its cover?”
“Sure, but we all do it anyway,” I teased.
Violet wrinkled her nose and opened her mouth as if to lecture me but then tapped her chin. “Actually, you might be onto something. Now that I think about it, that adage is completely incorrect. Book covers should tell you everything you need to know about the story inside. We’re supposed to judge books by their covers.”
“Exactly.” Feeling victorious, I took a bite of my taco, savoring the salty flavors as they mingled on my tongue.
Violet eyed my lunch. “That looks tasty. I’m going to see if they have any fish tacos left.” She stood and looked me straight in the eye. “I’ll be back,” she said in a thick faux-Austrian accent.
As laughter rippled through me, any remaining tension dissipated from between my shoulder blades. That was Violet for you—never a dull moment with her around.
With a grunt, Olivia motioned toward Piper and Asher as my best friend whispered something in his girlfriend’s ear. “Those two are so stinking cute. I can’t stand it.” Olivia spoke loudly enough for them to hear.
Piper pointed in our direction. “You can pretend all you want, but we know you really love seeing us together. It gives you all kinds of inspiration for your songs.”
Olivia turned to me with a shrug. “She’s right, of course. But how can we sit here, content in our singleness while these two are glowing neon with happiness?” She sighed dramatically. “No, I don’t think I’ll ever date. But maybe one day it will be your turn to fall in love, Wes.”
Um.No, thank you. I was perfectly content with the single life. “Speak for yourself. I’m not looking to date anytime soon.”
Piper made a tsking sound. “Now you’re tempting fate to step in. Who knows? The right girl might be just around the corner.”
Olivia and I shared a look. Yeah. How likely was that?
Chase, another senior I knew only casually, walked over and greeted Asher. “Hey, man. Congratulations on getting into Berkeley.”
Ash grinned. “Thanks. You heard back from Stanford yet?”
Chase’s face fell, and he shoved his hands into his pockets. “I didn’t get in Early Action. But competition is fierce, so it’s not a surprise. It was my reach school anyway.”
“Sorry to hear that, man,” Asher said.
Chase appeared to be about to say something more, but his eyes wandered in my direction then widened. I turned to find Violet standing beside me, gripping a plate of fish tacos. Her face looked rosier than usual.
“Chase.” His name came out all garbled. “T-two times in one day? I mean, hi again,” Violet squeaked.
Chase pulled his hand out of his pocket and waved stiffly. “Hey, Violet.”
Oooookay. My gaze moved from Violet to Chase and then back again. Apparently, secondhand embarrassment’s a real thing. With all this awkward energy zapping back and forth between them, it was like watching a train wreck, but I couldn’t turn away.
Violet’s lips moved, but no sound came out. I casually leaned back and caught her whispering something under her breath. Although too quiet to hear clearly, it sounded as though she was chanting something along the lines of “Be cool, Violet. Be cool.”
Chase pushed his glasses up his nose and let out an audible sigh. “Right. I better leave you to enjoy your lunch. See you guys later.” He gave Violet one last look before walking away.
Like a puppet released by its master, Violet collapsed onto the bench beside me. I eyed Olivia and Piper, waiting for them to say one of those encouraging things that girls say to each other, but neither of them addressed the “what the heck just happened?” moment.
Instead, everybody resumed eating, as if nothing had happened. Which was ridiculous because we’d all just witnessed Violet imploding before our very eyes.
I was about to ask if she was alright, but I caught her sneaking a look at Chase’s retreating form and recognized the longing on her face. It was identical to Chloe’s expression when speaking to me.
Everything snapped into place. How had I not realized before? Violet liked Chase, and she struggled to talk to him. But that didn’t make sense. Violet was gorgeous and hilarious. She must have realized that any guy would be thrilled to have someone like her interested in them.
Present company excluded, of course, as I wasn’t into relationships.
I took a bite of my lunch and slowly chewed. What a sorry pair we made. Violet excelled at math but couldn’t talk to the guy she liked. Meanwhile, I had no problems attracting girls but was epically failing precalc.
Wait one moment! I finished my taco, feeling almost euphoric. Even though I wasn’t as smart as Asher, a genius plan began forming in the back of my mind.